Toy vehicle and launcher

ABSTRACT

The toy vehicle and launcher disclosed herein includes a hollow bodied vehicle having front and rear ground engagable wheels rotatably mounted therein, and a flywheel motor mounted in the body in driving engagement with a rear drive wheel of the vehicle. A rotary drive member is mounted in the body and operatively connected to the flywheel to rotate the flywheel when the drive member is rotated. The launcher consists of a base including means for supporting the vehicle body with its drive wheel in an elevated position out of engagement with the base and at a higher level than the front wheels of the vehicle and a rotatable drive means that simultaneously rotates the drive member in the vehicle and holds the vehicle on the base in its elevated position during such rotation. The drive means is adapted to automatically release the vehicle when the drive to the vehicle drive member is stopped, so that when the flywheel is energized the vehicle is automatically released.

June 3, 1975 United States Patent 1 Ieda et al.

[ TOY VEHICLE AND LAUNCHER [57] ABSTRACT The toy vehicle and launcher disclosed herein includes a hollow bodied vehicle having front and rear ground engagable wheels rotatably mounted therein, and a [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 438,821

flywheel motor mounted in the body in driving engagement with a rear drive wheel of the vehicle. A retary drive member is mounted in the body and operatively connected to the flywheel to rotate the flywheel when the dri e member is rotated The launcher consists of a base including means for supporting the vehi- 209 cle body with its drive wheel in an elevated position out of engagement with the base and at a higher level than the front wheels of the vehicle and a rotatable [51] Int. A63h 29/20 [58] Field of Search....................... 46/202,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS drive means that simultaneously rotates the drive member in the vehicle and holds the vehicle on the base in its elevated position during such rotation. The drive means is adapted to automatically release the vehicle when the drive to the vehicle drive member is Strongin................................

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures stopped, so that when the flywheel is energized the ve- Mancene hicle is automatically released. Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard M. Rabkin, Esq.

1: TOY VEHICLE AND LAUNCHER The present invention relates to toy vehicles and. more particularly. to a combination toy vehicle and launching mechanism therefore.

Toy vehicles and toy vehicle games have achieved a wide popularity in the consumer market for childrens toys. Typically 'such vehicles are powered by springs. battery powered motors; or even through tracks electrifled with household current. In addition a wide variety of self propelled vehicles using flywheel motors, energized by rotating a flywheel to a high speed either through frictional engagement of a wheel of the toy with the playing surface or by an additional winding or rotating mechanism, have achieved wide acceptability in the market particularly because of their self propelling capability and because of their relatively simple drive mechanisms, are less susceptible to damage during play. A vehicle using a flywheel energized by friction is shown, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,650,067 to Greenwood, while a similar vehicle using a launching platform for energizing a vehicless flywheel motor is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,788,613 to Gelfand et al.

A flywheel driven vehicle using a launching platform, such as shown in Gelfand. is typically supported with its drive wheels out of engagement with the platforms base while the flywheel is energized. Such previously proposed launching platforms require an additional holding mechanism, separate and apart from the energizing mechanism, in order to hold-the vehicle in place during winding. This separate holding mechanism must then bereleased by the operator and an initial propelling force must be applied to the vehicle to move it from its position on the platform in order to engage the drive wheels of the vehicle with the launching platform or playing surface. Such holding and propelling mechanisms require an additional operation on the part of the operator and also represent an additional expense to the manufacturer of the toy Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flywheel driven toy vehicle and launching platform in which the flywheel motor can be energized without the need for an additional vehicle holding mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle and launching platform of the character described which is relatively simple in construction and easy for children to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle and launching platform which will simulate the operation of an actual vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle and launching platform therefor which is relatively inexpensive and yet durable in construction.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the toy vehicle and launching platform assembly include a hollow vehicle body, simulating an actual vehicle, which has a plurality of ground engaging wheels including at least one rear drive wheel. The vehicle body contains a flywheel motor mounted therein in driving engagement with the drive wheel and an energizer gear mounted in the body and operatively connected to the flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the energizer gear. The launching platform used in combination with this vehicle includes a base and means on the base for supporting the vehicle with its rear drive wheel in an elevated position above the base and at a higher elevation than the front wheel or wheels of the vehicle. The base includes a rotatable drive gear which is adapted to drivingly engage the energizer gear through an opening in the vehicle body and is located to engage that energizer gear at a position such that rotation of the drive gear in a driving direction will simultaneously rotate the gear and produce a holding force which maintains the vehicle in its elevated position on the base. The position of the drive gear in the base is selected such that when rotation of the drive gear is stopped, the energizer gear will react against the drive gear, due to its driving connecting with the now rotating flywheel, which force thus ejects the vehicle off of the base and on to the playing surface The above, and other objects. features and advan tages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toy vehicle and launching platform of the present invention, showing in phantom lines, the movement of the vehicle off of the platform after completion of the winding operation;

FIG. 2 is a enlarged elevation view, partly in section, taken through the central axis of the vehicle while on the launching platform; and

FIG. 3 is an end sectional view, taken along lines 3-3 of FIGS. 1 and 2 Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof. it will be seen that the toy 10 of the present invention includes a toy vehicle 12 and a launcher or launching platform 14 for the vehicle Vehicle 12 consists of a hollow plastic body 16, formed in the shape of a motorcycle having front and rear wheels 18, 20 respectively. The interior of body 16 contains a flywheel or an inertia type motor 22 of the type generally described in US. Pat. No. 3,650,067 which motor includes a weighted flywheel 24 rotatably mounted in the body in driving engagement with the rear drive wheel 20 of the vehicle through a transmission 26. The latter includes a first gear 28 secured to flywheel 24 for rotation therewith positioned in meshing engagement with a substantially larger gear 30, also rotatably mounted in body 16. Gear 30 is a compound gear and includes a smaller diameter gear 32 integrally formed therewith and in meshing engagement with an energizer gear 34 mounted on the axle 36 of wheel 20. Gear 34 is operatively connected to wheel 20, in any convenient manner, and may be integrally formed with the wheel so that the energizer gear and wheel will rotate together. The various gears in transmission 26 can be rotatably mounted directly on body 16 or can be provided as a self contained unit mounted in parallel interconnected side plates 27 (see FIG. 3) which in turn are rigidly mounted in body 16 by rivets or the like.

The energizer gear is exposed through an opening 38 in the vehicle body 16, for engagement with a rotatable drive gear 40 in base 14 (see FIG. 3) in order to energize flywheel 24 and drive the vehicle, as described hereinafter Vehicle 16, as mentioned, is formed in the shape of a two wheeled motorcycle and includes the front wheel 18, which is rotatably supported in a yoke 42. The latter is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 44 to the front end of body 16. and it is resiliently maintained in a predetermined position by a coil spring 46 or the like.

Launching platform 14, which is used to energize flywheel motor 22, includes a base member 48 and a winding tower 50. The base and tower may be formed in a unitary one piece plastic construction. but preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 3. towcr 50 is formed as a separate element for convenience in packaging and storing the toy. Basically tower 50 consists of a hollow plastic housing 52 which is constructed to define a handle 54 at its upper end. The lower end 56 of housing 52 has a narrow extension 58 which is adapted to fit in an opening 60 in the hollow base 48. The tower is held in position in the base by the provision of one or more integral tabs 62 which provide a snap fit arrangement between the tower and the base when the extension 58 of the tower is inserted in opening 60.

Tower 50 includes a drive wheel 63 rotatably mounted within the housing on a pivot post 64 or the like, in any convenient manner, as seen in FIG. 3. Drive wheel 63 has a handle 66 mounted thereon which permits the operator of the toy to rotate wheel 63 in any given direction, however, wheel 63 must be turned in a predetermined direction, i.e. the direction indicated by the arrows A in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to properly energize the flywheel motor 22 to drive the vehicle in a forward direction.

Wheel 63 has gear teeth 68 formed thereon along its periphery to define an integral gear located in the interior of tower housing 52. A portion of this gear is exposed through the open end 70 of tower 52 and, when the tower is in proper position in base 48 (as seen in FIG. 3) gear 68 is placed in meshing engagement with a pinion gear 72. The latter is mounted on an elongated shaft 74 in base 48.

Shaft 74 is preferabley a square shaft, rotatably mounted in housing 48 at one end 76 thereof. Gear 72 has a square opening 78 formed axially therein to receive shaft 74 in driving engagement. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that rotation of wheel 63 will cause gear 72 and thus shaft 74 to rotate.

Driving gear 40, is mounted on the opposite end 80 of shaft 74. This gear also has a square opening or bore 82 formed therein which receives the square shaft 74 and thus is in driving engagement with the shaft. Gear 40 also includes a collar 84 which rests in a semicylindrical pocket or saddle 86 formed in housing 48 which thus provides rotatable support for the gear and the end 80 of shaft 74. If desired, a vertical post or saddle 88 is provided in base 48 to prevent vertical movement of the gear 48 out of saddle 86.

To insure proper energizing of flywheel motor 22, launching platform 14 includes a pair of support walls, 90, 92 formed integrally on base 48. The support walls each include a notch 94 formed therein opening towards the direction of travel of the vehicle. These notches are provided to cooperate with a pair of support pins or bars 96 extending laterally outwardly from body 16 of vehicle 12. These pins are preferably formed of metal and are secured to plates 27.

Notches 94 provide support surfaces 98 for pins 96 and also abutment surfaces 100, which prevent-movement of the vehicle in a rearward direction. The height of notches 94in walls 90, 92 is selected so that the vehicle is supported with its rear end in an elevated position, with the rear drive wheel 20 thereof above the surface 102 of the base; but with energizer gear 34 in meshing engagement with gear 40, through the opening 38 in body 16. v

Surface 102 of base 48 def1nes an inclined ramp and vehicle support surface in the base (see FIG. 1 and 2). By this arrangement; it will be appreciated that with the vehicle 16 supported by pins 96 in walls 90, 92, the rear end of the vehicle is held in an'elevated'position above the elevation of front wheel 18. Accordingly when drive gear 40 is not rotating, there will be a natural tendency for vehicle 12 to move downwardly along ramp 102 under the influence of gravity. On the other hand, when drive gear 40 is rotated through actuation of drive wheel 63, in the direction indicated by the arrows A in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive wheel will be rotated in a clockwise direction (as shown in FIG. 2) thereby rotating energizer gear 34 in a counter-clockwise direction. As a result, it will be seen that at the point of meshing engagement between these two gears, the gears will be moving towards the rear of vehicle 12 in order to rotate the flywheel and rear wheel 20 in a forward driving direction.

This relative rotation between gears 34 and 40 produces a rearward thrust or force on vehicle 12 which urges vehicle 12 and thus pins 96 rearwardly. However, this rearward movement is limited by the abutment surfaces 100 of notches 94. As a result, it will be appreciated that vehicle 12 is held in its elevated position as illustrated in FIGS. 2, by gear 40 as long as that gear is rotated through actuation of wheel 63. In this manner, the vehicle is simultaneously held in its elevated position and its flywheel 24 is energized with drive wheel 20 out of engagement with surface 102.

As soon as the rotation of gear 40 from wheel 63 is stopped, as by the operators simply stopping the turning action of wheel 63, gear 40 will tend to slow down while gear 34 will tend to move at a substantially constant speed due to the inertia effects of the flywheel motor 22. Accordingly, a reaction force is produced by gear 34 against gear 40 which propels vehicle 12 in its driving direction, thereby moving pins 96 out of supporting engagement with notches 94 so that the vehicles drive wheel 20 can engage surface 102 and move the vehicle off of the launching platform. The ejection of vehicle 12 from the launching platform, when the drive of gear 40 is stopped, is assisted by gravity because of the supporting arrangement of the vehicle in the platform with its rear end above its front wheel 18. Thus, as mentioned above, where there is no driving force produced by the gear 40, gravity will urge the vehicle 16 in its forward direction down ramp 102 and out of the notches 94. The vehicle of course moves in a stable condition off of the launching platform 14 because of the gyroscopic stabilizing effect produced by the rapidly rotating flywheel 24 within its body The vehicle 12 is also provided with a toy doll which is adapted to be removable mounted or seated on the vehicle. The doll is of generally conventional construction having flexible hips, joints, and legs, so that it can be placed in a variety of positions. As seen in FIG. 1 the doll is seated on the motorcycle body 16 by placing its feet 112 in loops 114 integrally formed in the vertical body. The hands 116 of the doll are preformed to grip the handle bars of the motorcycle yoke 42 so that the doll is fully supported-on the vehicle.

The provision of doll 110, with movable joints, allows the person using the toy to vary the position of the doll on the vehicle between at least two positions, shown respectively in solid and dotted lines in FIG. 2. In the forward or solid line position of the .doll the vehicle, when launched from platform 14. will move off the ramp and on to the playing surface with both of its wheels 18, engaged with the ground so that the vehicle moves in the conventional manner. However. by adjusting the flexible body of the doll so that the doll assumes a more rearward position (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2).

the center of gravity of the combined doll and vehicle.

is moved closer to the rear of the vehicle. As a result, when the vehicle moves off of ramp 102, after energizing of the flywheel, this shift of the center gravity of the vehicle will cause the vehicle to move initially along the play surface only on its rear wheel 20 (as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 1) to simulate the wheelie" action as actually achieved by motorcycle stunt drivers.

In use, the person playing with toy l0 first selects and arranges doll 110 on the vehicle in the desired body position. He then places the vehicle 12 on platform 14 with pins 96 in notches 94 and gear 34 meshed with gear 40. The vehicle is first manually held in this position until rotation of wheel 63 in the direction A is commenced. Then the vehicle can be released because the driving rotation of gear 40 (located below the axis of rotation of gear 34) will hold the vehicle in its elevated position with pins 96 in notches 94. When the flywheel 24 has achieved the desired speed the player stops turning wheel 63 and vehicle 12 is auotmatically released down ramp 102, as described below.

Accordingly, it is seen that a relatively simple and inexpensive toy vehicle and launching assembly or platform is provided by the construction by the present invention. The launching assembly permits convenient and rapid energizingof the flywheel motor of the vehicle, while simultaneously acting to hold the vehicle in its elevated position to permit such energizing. Moreover, the construction is such that upon completion of the energizing operation, the vehicle will automatically be ejected from the launching platform without the need for an additional impulse or driving mechanism as is required in previously proposed launching platforms such as shown in the above mentioned Gelfand et al. patent.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein when one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor, comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having ground engageable wheels rotatably mounted in the body: a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with at least one of said ground engageable wheels; and a rotary drive member mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel when the drive member is rotated; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base. means on said base for supporting said vehicle with at least one ground engageable wheel in an elevated position out of engagement with the base at a higher level than the other of said ground engageable wheels and for limiting the direction of movement of the vehicle off the launching platform to the driving direction of said one ground engageable wheel. and separate drive means for simultaneously rotating said drive member and for urging said vehicle in a direction opposite to its tation. said drive means being adapted to automatically release said vehicle from engagement'with said supporting means when the drive to said drive member is stopped. whereby said, flywheel is rotated and energized by said drive means and said vehicle is automatically released by said drivemeans when said flywheel is energized. I 1 I v a 2. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having a plurality of ground engageable wheels including at least one drive wheel; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with said drive wheel, and an energizer gear rotatably mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon' rotation of the energizer gear; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base. means on said base for supporting said vehicle body with said drive wheel in an elevated position above the base and at a higher elevation than at least one of the other wheels of the vehicle; and a rotatable drive gear mounted in said base for driving engagement with said energizer gear and located to engage said energizer gear at a position wherein continuous rotation of the drive gear in a predetermined direction, selected to cause said energizer gear to rotate in the driving direction of the drive wheel, will simultaneously rotate said energizer gear and hold said vehicle on the base in its elevated position; the meshing engagement of the drive gear and energizer gear during rotation of the drive gear in said predetermined direction urging said vehiclea body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of said drive wheel, thereby to hold the vehicle in engagement with said supporting means on the base as long as said energizer gear is rotated.

3. The toy as defined in claim 2 wherein said energizer gear is mounted in said vehicle body for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis of rotation and said drive gear is located to engage said energizer gear at a peripheral position below the axis of rotation of the energizer gear.

4. The toy as defined in claim 3 wherein said vehicle body includes at least one vehicle support member and said means for supporting said vehicle body comprises a supporting surface for supporting said support member and vehicle in said elevated position and an abutment surface for engaging said support member and limiting movement of the vehicle to the driving direction of said drive wheel; said predetermined direction of rotation of said drive gear being selected to cause said energizer gear to rotate in the driving direction of the drive wheel whereby the meshing engagement of said drive gear and energizer gear during rotation of the drive gear urges said vehicles body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of its drive wheel. thereby to engage said support member with said abutment surface and hold said vehicle on said base.

and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the energizer gear. said energizer gear being mounted in said body for rotation in a vertical plane on a horizontal axis when the vehicle is in use; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base having an inclined ramp extending from a first level to a second lower lever, support-means on said base at said first level for engaging said vehicle body adjacent said rear drive wheel and supporting the rear of said body in an elevated position with said drive wheel out of engagement with the ramp and at an elevation above that of said front wheel. said support means including abutment means for preventing rearward movement of said vehicle on the base when supported in said elevated position while permitting forward movement of said vehicle off of said support means; a rotatable drive gear rotatably mounted in said base for driving engagement with said energizer gear when said vehicle is supported in said elevated position by the support means; and means for rotating said drive gear: said drive gear being located in said base to engage said energizer gear through the opening in said body at a peripheral position below the horizontal axis of rotation of the energizer gear whereby said drive gear. when rotated in a direction to cause rotation of said flywheel and drive wheel in the driving direction of the vehicle will hold said vehicle against said abutment means and on said support means while permitting said vehicle to move off of said support means down said ramp when rotation of the drive gear is stopped.

6. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said vehicle has a pair of outwardly and oppositely extending support bars adjacent said rear drive wheel and said support means comprises a pair of spaced wall extending vertically above said ramp and adapted to receive the rear of said vehicle therebetween. said walls having notches formed therein opening towards the direction of travel ofthe vehicle and adapted to receive said sup port bars therein. said notches providing support surfaces engaging said bars to support said vehicle in said elevated position and defining said abutment means.

7. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said vehicle comprises a two wheeled vehicle having said front and rear wheels and said flywheel is positioned in said ody vertically between said two wheels to provide a gyroscopic action.

8. The toy as defined in claim 7 including a movable doll seated on said vehicle between said front and rear wheels and adapted to be moved between at least two positions on the vehicle thereby to vary the location of the center of gravity of the vehicle and vary the operational characteristics thereof.

9. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said energizer gear is coaxially mounted with said rear drive wheel and is operatively connected to the drive wheel for rotation therewith.

10. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive gear is mounted in said base for rotation in a vertical plane on a horizontal axis below said ramp, said ramp having an opening therein therough which said drive gear extends for engagement with said energizer gear.

11. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having a plurality of ground engageable wheels including at least one drive wheel; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with said drive wheel, and an energizer gear rotatably mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the energizer gear; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base, means on said base for supporting said vehicle body with said drive wheel in an elevated position above the base and at a higher elevation than at least one of the other wheels of the vehicle; and a rotatable drive gear mounted in said base for driving engagement with said energizer gear and located to engage said energizer gear at a position wherein continuous rotation of the drive gear in a predetermined direction will simultaneously rotate said energizer gear and hold said vehicle on the base in its elevated position; and energizer gear being mounted in said vehicle body for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis of rotation and said drive gear being located to engage said energizer gear at a peripheral position below the axis of rotation of the energizer gear; and said vehicle body including at least one vehicle support member and said means for supporting said vehicles body comprising a supporting surface for supporting said support member and vehicle in said elevated position and an abutment surface for engaging said support member and limiting movement of the vehicle to the driving direction of said drive wheel; said predetermined direction of'rotation of said drive gear being selected to cause said energizer gear to rotate in the driving direction of the drive wheel whereby the meshing engagement of said drive gear and energizer gear during rotation of the drive gear urges said vehicles body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of its drive wheel, thereby to engage said support member with said abutment surface and hold said vehicle on said basew 12. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor. comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having ground engageable wheels rotatably mounted in the body; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with at least one of said ground engageable wheels; and a rotary drive member mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel when the drive member is rotated; and a launching platform for said vehicle including means on said base for supporting said vehicle body with said at least one ground engageable wheel in an elevated position out of engagement with the base at a higher level than other of said ground engageable wheels; said supporting means including means for limiting movement of the vehicle off the launching platform to the driving direction of said one ground engageable wheel; and drive means for simultaneously rotating said drive member and for holding said vehicle on said supporting means on the base with said one ground engageable wheel in its elevated position during such rotation; said drive means rotating said drive member in the driving direction of the one ground engageable wheel whereby the engagement of the drive means with the drive member urges the vehicles body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of said one ground engageable wheel thereby to hold the vehicle body on said support- 7 ing means of the base; said drive means being adapted to automatically release said vehicle from engagement with said supporting means when the drive to said drive member is stopped, whereby said flywheel is rotated and energized by said drive means and said vehicle is automatically released by said drive means when said flywheel is energized. 

1. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor, comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having ground engageable wheels rotatably mounted in the body; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with at least one of said ground engageable wheels; and a rotary drive member mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel when the drive member is rotated; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base, means on said base for supporting said vehicle with at least one ground engageable wheel in an elevated position out of engagement with the base at a higher level than the other of said ground engageable wheels and for limiting the direction of movement of the vehicle off the launching platform to the driving direction of said one ground engageable wheel, and separate drive means for simultaneously rotating said drive member and for urging said vehicle in a direction opposite to its driving direction and into engagement with said supporting means on the base with said one ground engageable wheel in its elevated position during such rotation, said drive means being adapted to automatically release said vehicle from engagement with said supporting means when the drive to said drive member is stopped, whereby said flywheel is rotated and energized by said drive means and said vehicle is automatically released by said drive means when said flywheel is energized.
 1. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor, comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having ground engageable wheels rotatably mounted in the body; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with at least one of said ground engageable wheels; and a rotary drive member mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel when the drive member is rotated; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base, means on said base for supporting said vehicle with at least one ground engageable wheel in an elevated position out of engagement with the base at a higher level than the other of said ground engageable wheels and for limiting the direction of movement of the vehicle off the launching platform to the driving direction of said one ground engageable wheel, and separate drive means for simultaneously rotating said drive member and for urging said vehicle in a direction opposite to its driving direction and into engagement with said supporting means on the base with said one ground engageable wheel in its elevated position during such rotation, said drive means being adapted to automatically release said vehicle from engagement with said supporting means when the drive to said drive member is stopped, whereby said flywheel is rotated and energized by said drive means and said vehicle is automatically released by said drive means when said flywheel is energized.
 2. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having a plurality of ground engageable wheels including at least one drive wheel; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with said drive wheel, and an energizer gear rotatably mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the energizer gear; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a bAse, means on said base for supporting said vehicle body with said drive wheel in an elevated position above the base and at a higher elevation than at least one of the other wheels of the vehicle; and a rotatable drive gear mounted in said base for driving engagement with said energizer gear and located to engage said energizer gear at a position wherein continuous rotation of the drive gear in a predetermined direction, selected to cause said energizer gear to rotate in the driving direction of the drive wheel, will simultaneously rotate said energizer gear and hold said vehicle on the base in its elevated position; the meshing engagement of the drive gear and energizer gear during rotation of the drive gear in said predetermined direction urging said vehicle''a body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of said drive wheel, thereby to hold the vehicle in engagement with said supporting means on the base as long as said energizer gear is rotated.
 3. The toy as defined in claim 2 wherein said energizer gear is mounted in said vehicle body for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis of rotation and said drive gear is located to engage said energizer gear at a peripheral position below the axis of rotation of the energizer gear.
 4. The toy as defined in claim 3 wherein said vehicle body includes at least one vehicle support member and said means for supporting said vehicle body comprises a supporting surface for supporting said support member and vehicle in said elevated position and an abutment surface for engaging said support member and limiting movement of the vehicle to the driving direction of said drive wheel; said predetermined direction of rotation of said drive gear being selected to cause said energizer gear to rotate in the driving direction of the drive wheel whereby the meshing engagement of said drive gear and energizer gear during rotation of the drive gear urges said vehicle''s body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of its drive wheel, thereby to engage said support member with said abutment surface and hold said vehicle on said base.
 5. A toy vehicle and launcher therefore comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having a plurality of gorund engagable wheel including at least one front wheel and at least one rear drive wheel; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with said drive wheel for driving said vehicle in a forward direction, and an energizer gear rotatably mounted on said body adjacent to an opening therein and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the energizer gear, said energizer gear being mounted in said body for rotation in a vertical plane on a horizontal axis when the vehicle is in use; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base having an inclined ramp extending from a first level to a second lower lever, support means on said base at said first level for engaging said vehicle body adjacent said rear drive wheel and supporting the rear of said body in an elevated position with said drive wheel out of engagement with the ramp and at an elevation above that of said front wheel, said support means including abutment means for preventing rearward movement of said vehicle on the base when supported in said elevated position while permitting forward movement of said vehicle off of said support means; a rotatable drive gear rotatably mounted in said base for driving engagement with said energizer gear when said vehicle is supported in said elevated position by the support means; and means for rotating said drive gear; said drive gear being located in said base to engage said energizer gear through the opening in said body at a peripheral position below the horizontal axis of rotation of the energizer gear whereby said drive gear, when rotated in a direction to cause rotation of said flywheel and drive wheel in the driving direction of the vehicle will hold said vehicle against said abutment means and on said suppoRt means while permitting said vehicle to move off of said support means down said ramp when rotation of the drive gear is stopped.
 6. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said vehicle has a pair of outwardly and oppositely extending support bars adjacent said rear drive wheel and said support means comprises a pair of spaced wall extending vertically above said ramp and adapted to receive the rear of said vehicle therebetween, said walls having notches formed therein opening towards the direction of travel of the vehicle and adapted to receive said support bars therein, said notches providing support surfaces engaging said bars to support said vehicle in said elevated position and defining said abutment means.
 7. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said vehicle comprises a two wheeled vehicle having said front and rear wheels and said flywheel is positioned in said body vertically between said two wheels to provide a gyroscopic action.
 8. The toy as defined in claim 7 including a movable doll seated on said vehicle between said front and rear wheels and adapted to be moved between at least two positions on the vehicle thereby to vary the location of the center of gravity of the vehicle and vary the operational characteristics thereof.
 9. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said energizer gear is coaxially mounted with said rear drive wheel and is operatively connected to the drive wheel for rotation therewith.
 10. The toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive gear is mounted in said base for rotation in a vertical plane on a horizontal axis below said ramp, said ramp having an opening therein therough which said drive gear extends for engagement with said energizer gear.
 11. A toy vehicle and launcher therefor comprising, in combination, a hollow vehicle body having a plurality of ground engageable wheels including at least one drive wheel; a flywheel motor mounted in said body in driving engagement with said drive wheel, and an energizer gear rotatably mounted in said body and operatively connected to said flywheel to rotate the flywheel upon rotation of the energizer gear; and a launching platform for said vehicle including a base, means on said base for supporting said vehicle body with said drive wheel in an elevated position above the base and at a higher elevation than at least one of the other wheels of the vehicle; and a rotatable drive gear mounted in said base for driving engagement with said energizer gear and located to engage said energizer gear at a position wherein continuous rotation of the drive gear in a predetermined direction will simultaneously rotate said energizer gear and hold said vehicle on the base in its elevated position; and energizer gear being mounted in said vehicle body for rotation in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis of rotation and said drive gear being located to engage said energizer gear at a peripheral position below the axis of rotation of the energizer gear; and said vehicle body including at least one vehicle support member and said means for supporting said vehicle''s body comprising a supporting surface for supporting said support member and vehicle in said elevated position and an abutment surface for engaging said support member and limiting movement of the vehicle to the driving direction of said drive wheel; said predetermined direction of rotation of said drive gear being selected to cause said energizer gear to rotate in the driving direction of the drive wheel whereby the meshing engagement of said drive gear and energizer gear during rotation of the drive gear urges said vehicle''s body in a direction opposite to the driving direction of its drive wheel, thereby to engage said support member with said abutment surface and hold said vehicle on said base. 